Digital Lifestyles Reference Guide

Aug 27, 2004

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Xbox 360

Xbox 360 may be a game console, but it isn’t just for gamers. The games will rock your screen, whether you’ve got HDTV or an old standard definition tube, but the real genius of Xbox 360 is in all the integration. Convergence gets thrown around continuously in the digital media space. Xbox 360 is the first consumer electronics solution to deliver convergence. Play music, movies and photo slideshows from your computer through your home theater system using Xbox 360. Plug in a digital camera to browse photos. Connect your iPod to play music. Download everything from gaming add-ons to interface extras through the now-standard Xbox Live. Microsoft brought home computing to the masses with the launch of Windows 95; Xbox 360 will go down in history as the living room equivalent. It’s tempting to save $100 and get the entry level $299 system, but the full deal with hard drive and wireless controllers for $399 is well worth the price difference.

Sony PlayStation Portable

Portable device manufacturers the world over are looking for something to compete with Apple’s iPod franchise. Sony has it in the PSP. Sure it’s a gaming device, but the PSP is so much more. The 4.3-inch screen is great for watching movies or flipping through photos. Music playback is just like any other portable player. An on board browser connects to the Internet at most Wi-Fi hotspots. And if the gadget geek on your list already has one, a second one just means you might spend time playing head-to-head using onboard networking. Street price is $249, but don’t forget a Memory Stick for movies and music.

iPod video

It’s an iPod, so of course everyone wants one. Despite saying it would never happen, Steve Jobs launched the iPod video to much fanfare and the prediction that Apple would save Hollywood. The screen is slightly larger than the previous iPod photo, with a sleek body and traditional iPod wheel navigation. Backordering last week’s episodes of Desperate Housewives and Lost are currently the most compelling pay content options, but more are certainly to follow as this catches on. While the iPod video is certainly a music player first, this is one heck of a way to show off your kids at the office. Having the option to sit through a television show will only get more compelling as the selection grows. Available in 30GB and 60GB sizes, the iPod video starts at $299.

Archos AV700

With a massive 7-inch screen, larger than both the iPod video and Sony PSP, Archos offers the best-looking screen in portable video. It’s portable in the handbag sense of the word, not pocket-sized, but the playback of your favorite shows and movies is outstanding with 720x480 resolution. The AV700 doubles as a DVR, recording shows for viewing on the go. Optional ripping hardware records DVD movies to the AV700 in a format indistinguishable from DVD quality on a larger screen. The Mophun gaming engine delivers an optional gaming experience. Microsoft’s PlaysForSure video experience is supported for protected content. A 40GB version goes for $599, with a 100GB version listing at $799.

Etymotic Headphones

If you listen to music on a portable device, your ears will thank you for investing in Etymotic headphones. I’m not normally a fan of in-ear headphones, but I make an exception for Etymotic. Designed by an audiologist, these are headphones with the listening quality of studio grade monitors. Unlike traditional earbud headphones, Etymotic headphones block out external noise the same way an earplug might. By eliminating external noise, you get more of the music in your ear, requiring lower playback volume and reducing potential hearing damage from audio overload. Anyone with an iPod, PSP or the Archos AV700 mentioned above should dump the factory listening nubs for Etymotic and never look back. Prices start at $139, with the difference in audio quality distinctly audible.

Pocket Hard Drive

If your gadget lover travels or swaps files between computers, a pocket hard drive is a must. With the risk of data damage or loss from airport security screening and the potential for lost or stolen hardware, keeping a backup is always a good idea. A number of 40GB hard drives are pocket sized at a price tag below $150. The price seems high compared to $0.50 GB prices of desktop sized drives, but portability still commands a premium. Steer clear of those 4GB Micro drive solutions, which are almost as expensive for much less storage. The money is better spent on a small portable media player in that price range. For real portable backup, look in the 40GB plus sizes and help your gadget lover keep a second copy of data in their pocket.

Mac Mini

For the gadget geek who already has everything, a Mac Mini is the perfect new playground. It’s small, it’s running Mac OS X, and it ships with the entire iLife suite of applications. People used to Windows will suddenly feel like that old clunky beige box lost some of its luster. As a brand new playground, a Mac Mini is sure to be a favorite holiday gift. Be sure to grab an extra keyboard and mouse to go with the little white box or you’ll get the "batteries not included" look of desperation when your new Mac user tries to get connected. You know what they say, once you go Mac...

Slingbox

Television anywhere is a priority for a portion of the digital lifestyle leisure class. Slingbox helps make that premium cable subscription at home available no matter where your travels take you. Connecting into your local cable, the device relays video across the Internet, making it available as a stream you log in to view. I’m personally content with recording shows on a DVR and downloading them for remote viewing, but live television has its own appeal. With Slingbox connected in the house and a laptop in your hotel room, you never suffer with the hotel’s contract with lousy television programming. At $249, the price seems a little steep just for watching the cable subscription you already pay for, but considering that’s two months of service in some cases, it’s more like a way to extract value from something you pay for anyway.

Subscription to MAKE Magazine

It seems a little 1950 to put a magazine on a holiday wishlist considering all the online resources, but MAKE brings back magazine appeal like nothing in the last fifty years. Sexy graphic design and how-to articles reminiscent of early Popular Science offerings are the perfect eye candy to get any gadget fanatic revved up to make their own flying saucer or build a robot for world domination. The actual how-tos are more practical than nurturing for the inner evil genius, and this is one magazine no one will question if you are reading for the articles. With a new emphasis on crafts in addition to the gadget hacks, there’s a little something in MAKE for everyone.

Stocking Stuffers

A few things shouldn’t be overlooked on the digital lifestyle holiday wishlist. Like the package of Duracell batteries we all craved as kids, these are accessories no gadget junkie can live without.

Memory

Extra memory cards tops the list of stocking stuffers. Like batteries, memory lacks the cool of the devices it supports, but without memory our digital pictures would disappear, our music won’t play, and shuffling data from home to work becomes an exercise in coaster making. Coupled with extra memory cards is a card reader. All these memory storing gadgets connect to a PC via USB, but it’s often easier to transfer data using a card reader. If you don’t have one, get one.

Controllers

If your geek is a gamer, having new or extra controllers is a must. The Xbox 360 ships with a controller, but the real fun is letting your friends play too. If gaming is part of the holidays, make sure extra controllers are a holiday extra.

Adapters

This one is a little tricky because it requires knowing something about the devices. For PSP owners, an adapter for charging the PSP via USB is a must. iPod video owners want a dock to connect the iPod to their television. And don’t forget to make sure there’s a connector for that portable media player in the car.

Cases

iPod and PSP hardware is fragile. The screens scratch. A fall from waist height might mean the end of the hard drive. A case helps protect against unforeseeable accidents. Couple any portable media player with a case to keep it safe from damage.

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